Looking for a quick and delicious way to prepare enoki mushrooms? Try this Chinese-style steamed enoki mushroom recipe. The mushrooms are cooked with fragrant garlic and green onion, then drizzled with soy sauce and sesame oil for a rich taste. It’s a perfect appetizer or side dish for your dinner.
Chinese steamed enoki mushrooms are a popular and healthy dish known for their delicate texture and mild flavor. It’s one of those homestyle dishes that you don’t see often at a restaurant. Steaming mushrooms might not sound familiar to you, but trust me, you’ll be surprised at how delicious this dish is.
What is enoki mushrooms
Enoki mushrooms are called Jin Zhen Gu (金针菇) in China, which literally means golden needle mushrooms. These mushrooms are easily recognizable by their long, slender stems and small, white caps. They have a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a crunchy texture that holds up well in various cooking methods, such as soup, stir fry, stew and steamed dishes. Enoki mushrooms are not only delicious but also packed with nutritional benefits. They are low in calories, rich in vitamins B and D, and provide a good amount of fiber and antioxidants. They are a staple in Chinese cooking.
Ingredients
It only takes a few simple pantry ingredients to make steamed enoki mushrooms. When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:
- Enoki mushrooms
- Sugar and salt
- Minced garlic
- Cut dried chili peppers
- Light soy sauce
- Sliced green onion
- Sesame oil
This dish uses dried chili peppers to add aroma to the oil but it does not make the dish spicy. If you prefer a spicier dish, you can use one to two fresh bird’s eye chilis (sliced) instead of the dried chili peppers.
How to make steamed enoki mushrooms
Making steamed enoki mushrooms is super easy.
- Spread the enoki mushrooms over a plate that can fit into your steamer, sprinkle with salt and sugar
- Heat up oil to cook the garlic and dried chili pepper
- Pour the hot garlic oil over the mushrooms
- Steamed the mushrooms until cooked through
- Drizzle with soy sauce and sesame oil, garnish with green onion
- Slightly stir everything together before eating
The dish uses a lot of garlic and dried chili pepper to make a super fragrant oil that pairs so well with the delicate enoki mushrooms. Once steamed, the mushrooms are tender but still have a chewy mouthfeel. It also releases some mild and slightly sweet juice that is full of umami. Mixed with soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil, it makes these mushrooms addictively tasty!
You can serve them as a warm or cold appetizer or side dish to your meal.
Other delicious mushroom recipes
Steamed Enoki Mushrooms (蒜蓉金针菇)
Ingredients
- 1 bag (7 oz / 200 g) enoki mushrooms , tough ends removed and torn to thin bunches
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 6 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 dried Chinese chili peppers , sliced (or bird’s eye chili peppers)
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 green onion , sliced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
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Prepare the steamer by heating 2” (5cm) water over medium-high heat until boiling.
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Spread the enoki mushrooms on a plate that can fit in your steamer. Sprinkle the mushrooms evenly with the sugar and pinch of salt.
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Heat oil in a small frying pan over medium heat until hot. Add the garlic and chili peppers. Stir to mix thoroughly, until the garlic just starts to turn golden. Immediately pour the hot sauce over the mushrooms.
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Steam the enoki mushrooms for 6 minutes, or until turning tender. Once done, transfer the plate to your kitchen counter.
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Drizzle with light soy sauce and sesame oil. Sprinkle the green onion over it. Serve as an appetizer. Stir gently to mix well before eating.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 184kcal, Carbohydrates: 8.1g, Protein: 4.5g, Fat: 16.1g, Saturated Fat: 2.6g, Sodium: 460mg, Potassium: 408mg, Fiber: 1.5g, Sugar: 2.7g, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 3mg
